DAVID Hemp will be hoping that his groin injury has totally cleared up after returning to the UK to begin training with Glamorgan County Cricket Club. Training started this week for the Glamorgan players and while Hemp had to temper his preparations while in Bermuda before returning to the UK, he did manage to do as much as possible in the Olympic Club gym.

Hemp said he did not do any cricket work since the end of last season. "I had a groin operation so I haven't been able to do any of that," he said. But before he left for the UK last month he was very positive. "I had the other side (groin) operated on a few years ago and it didn't feel as good as this has in the same amount of time so touch wood it will be OK," he said.

Hemp, who flew into Bermuda last summer to join the national cricket team which will compete in next year's World Cup in the West Indies, said Glamorgan started training on Wednesday. "That is the official start of the preseason," he added.

Hemp spent a large amount of time in Bermuda since the end of the 2005 season working at the Bermuda Cricket Board's offices. He had to complete 100 days of cricket work to gain eligibility for international tournaments.

Of the upcoming English county season he said: "The (Glamorgan) squad have been training all winter indoors. But when we get back into official full training we will be tested for fitness and there will be individual programmes and technical programmes in terms of the individual game and that will include video analysis."

On April 9 Glamorgan will play a friendly and then the first real match will be at Essex on April 23 in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy Tournament before the County Cricket Championship starts at the club home ground Sophia Gardens on April 26 against Essex.

Hemp said the club will play 16 four-day games, 16 Sunday League games and nine one-day games this season. "The Sunday League games are 40 overs with a white ball and coloured clothing. We also have the 20-20 Cup," he said adding that after initial misgivings about the 20-20 format, all the players love it now.

He said: "This will be the fourth year we have played 20-20. I remember when it started we all sat down with the marketing guy and he said 'look we need all the players to buy into 20-20'. I would say that the players were about 60 percent for it and 40 percent against it. But since then all the players have been completely sold on 20-20.

"It is an exciting format and it certainly brings the crowds in which is so important for the county game in England. It is quite unbelievable really. The game is finished in three hours and it is a lot more accessible for families with kids. A lot of the games are played on a Friday or Saturday night and you get people coming to the games who normally wouldn't come to watch cricket. Even when we play (20-20) in mid-week all the corporate boxes have been sold out and the most games are played to near capacity crowds. It has done wonders for the game."

Hemp said Bermuda will enjoy playing in the 20-20 Classic here next month and also the Stanford 20-20 tournament in Antigua in the summer.

Of the 20-20 Classic he said: "I have played against some of the players who are coming to Bermuda for it. Some would have been too old but I would have played against most of the England side and other players who were the overseas players for other county teams."

And while he will be playing full time until the season ends in late September, he will also be in close contact with the BCB as well as Bermuda captain Clay Smith, coach Gus Logie and Wendell Smith who has taken over the youth development.

Of Bermuda's youth players and the future of the game here, he said: "I think the Under 19 future looks bright. I think from Bermuda's point of view, we will have to keep developing the players. We will have to see how many of that Under 19 squad turn around to become national team players. After all the more people you can pick from the better it is for the country."

Hemp will return to Bermuda on October 14th. "Then I am available for selection (for the national team)," he said.